A VICAR from Liverpool was stabbed in the stomach just yards from the door of his church.

The Rev Ian Brady, 45, is recovering in hospital after being attacked in London on Tuesday.

Today friends of the "Scouser with a sense of humour" said they were horrified by the unprovoked attack.

Mr Brady was born into a Catholic family but later became a member of the Salvation Army in the north west and joined the Church of England.

He had been walking down Ventnor Avenue to visit a friend, Ed Evans, when he was stabbed with a three-inch vegetable knife.

He managed to stumble to the house and rouse Mr Evans, who described the knife as "almost going through his body".

Mr Evans said: "He said to me 'Ed, I have been stabbed. It was a big man'."

Mr Evans said he later spoke to Mr Brady's wife Linda, and added: "They are all traumatised by this. This is not something that happens here."

Other neighbours described Mr Evans as "an absolute gentleman" and someone who would "give the shirt off his own back to help anyone".

A spokesman for the Metropolitan police today described Mr Brady's condition as "serious but stable".

The couple have two young children, Ben and Joe, who were adopted from Brazil and Hungary, and he has worked with underprivileged youngsters in different parts of the world.

Detectives investigating the stabbing have recovered a knife but no arrests have yet been made.

There is no description of a suspect or suspects but investigating officers have launched a public appeal for help in tracking down the occupants of a convertible Ford Escort seen near the church around the time of the stabbing.

Mike Talbot, area dean of Harrow, said: "Ian is a good parish priest, much loved by the community and I know that there are a lot of people who are holding him and his family in their prayers at this time."

He added that prior to his post in Stanmore, Mr Brady had been a curate in Cromer, Norfolk, and trained at a theological centre in Cambridge.

A statement from Mr Brady's family said: "We would like to thank the community of all faiths for their support and prayers at this difficult time."